the various chances

chapter two

Jeremy

My boots click on the stoned pathway of my parent's house. I climb the stairs and was barely at the door when howling and barking voices are heard. Not a second later, Benny- the golden retriever and Jax- the Siberian husky were at my legs. Truth to be told Benny was my favorite, she was standing on her hind legs and holding up her paws at me while Jax was howling like a rookie.

I squat down, place the flowers from my hand down on the floor and rub Benny's chin with both my hands. She barks louder and howls, trying to lick my face and wagging her tail furiously. "Hey, my Benny, Benny, calm down", I tell her when she tries to lick my face. Jax places his snoot on my shoulder. I give him the same attention.

Benny was one hell of a needy dog, once I have my hands on her she just clings to me and wags her tail like some maniac. I pick her up and the flowers and make my way in, Jax walking with me and Benny in my arms.

Loud music drums my ears. Dad had worn his headphones, working on his laptop. I sigh. "Julie, slow down the god damn music", I shout. The music slows down. Dad sighs, removes his headphones, says to no one in particular, "thank god" and looks up at me. "Jeremy", he says, getting up from his seat on the couch. "Morning Dad" -I say and stand beside him- "and umm... Happy Anniversary."

"Thank you", he pats my shoulder with a smile on his face.

"Where's mom?" I ask.

"in the kitchen"

"those are for?" he asks pointing to the flowers in my hand.

"mom, obviously", I shrug.

Benny slips from my arms and starts walking with Jax and stops when Julianna descends the stairs wearing pajamas with a black hoodie, hair a little unruly and stops at the last one. "Hey, Jar Jar Binks", she says with a smirk on her face. "Hello to you too, JJ," I say.

Anyone barely gets a chance to say or react when mom walks in. She has a huge smile on her face and wraps her arms around me, "Hey, my boy!" I place my head in the crook of her neck by leaning down a little, "Hi mom." We get back to normal.

I extend the flowers, "for you" -I say- "Happy Anniversary!" Dad chuckles lightly. She takes them from my hands and a huge smile graces her face. Getting on her tip-toes she tilts her head up, I lean down a little and she places a kiss on my cheek, "Thank you, Jeremy."

"What about me?" Julianna pouts.

"Come here", mom and dad say in synchrony. Julianna hops a little and makes her way toward the three of us who were looking at each other in a mutual understanding. Once, Julie is between us, the three of us wrap arms around each other making a triangle inside which Julie gets caught.

"This is so not fair", she pouts and with a grin on my face, I loosen my hold on my parents and start tickling her. She thrashes her hands around while laughing like a maniac. Both of us tumble to the ground unable to control the hysterics.

"if you guys are done start heading to the kitchen for the breakfast", mom says.

Julie and I were sitting on the floor, recovering from all laughing. We simultaneously look up to find mom having a smile on her face while dad looked a little annoyed but with a smile. Julie and I share a look and get up from the floor.

"Your kids haven't grown up according to their age", dad says.

Mom raises an eyebrow, "oh so now my kids huh!"

Dad laughs a little and wraps an arm around mom's shoulders, "I was joking ma cherie."

"you better be, Dad. Wouldn't want you to sleep on the couch on the day of your Anniversary", Julie says.